2008-2009 BU roster - interesting facts

[it's boogie time]

I believe one of the reasons that people want local kids is that you can steal a recruit that is being recruited by the big boys. The recruit already knows about the school and possibly has a connection to it. It's tough in Peoria because the Illini have such a strong connection with former players and former coaches. Plus, there are plenty of alumni & local media coverage on the Illini in Peoria.

I think all of us on here want the best players available for BU. It looks like Bradley's best success have been kids from the Chicagoland area. Then again, I'm guessing many schools in the midwest could say that.

[PTownHawkeye]

BU webpage is now updated on the current roster.....
http://www.bubraves.com/SportSelect....98&SPSID=19333

Minus Taylor Brown...I wonder what number he will select?

[mexicobufan]

This is interesting.....I checked this page on the Friday and Brown was listed with the number 13??? I wonder why they took him off????

[BradleyBrave]

This is interesting.....I checked this page on the Friday and Brown was listed with the number 13??? I wonder why they took him off????

I know I have been the one to be the 'nervous nellie' about Brown actually showing up on campus, but I honestly don't think his removal from the team website is an indicator of him not coming. I am guessing that since he hasn't signed an LOI or enrolled in classes yet, that BU technically cannot comment on him or list them on their website. I could be wrong, but that's my guess as to why he's no longer list. I sure hope it's something like that...

[Da Coach]

That's correct. He will be at Bradley in about 2 weeks.

[PTownHawkeye]

Brown was listed with the number 13

I'm happy to hear he will likely wear #13. The last person to wear that number turned out to be decent

[bradleybasketballfan]

I want the best available player for Bradley--but in recent history BU hasn't had the best luck with four year kids not from the "recruiting base" staying for four years. It could all be coincedence of course as well.

The Canadians are the exception. They stayed four years and excelled. However, Danny Granger, Mike Suggs, Cameron Rigby, Antoine Tisby, Lee Biddlecome, Stefan Marcetic, Fred Atkins, Andre Corbett, etc. never completed all four-years and made much of a splash (save for Granger).

I don't know what this means. I am always a bit cautious about getting kids from 5-6 states away from Peoria. There are a lot of quality schools/programs close to where these kids are from. Why would they come so far to play basketball at Bradley? I love BU but I always have to wonder about this.

The four-year kids who have excelled at BU in recent memory (Gilbert, Crouch, Ruffin, Warren-let's count him, Parker, Zobrist, Akinkunle, Maniscalco-let's count him, etc.) all came from Illinois or Indiana.

I think the McCain's, Egolf's, Thompson's, of the world are fine talents, but I'm guarded when kids go 5-6 states away to play basketball at the mid-major level.

[audacious_aficionado]

i was worried for a second but it makes sense now.

[mexicobufan]

I wasnt trying to imply he wont be coming to BU, it was just the fact he was there Friday. I am sure someone jumped the gun and they had it removed. I know some folks had wondered what his number would be so I was passing on what I read on friday.........number 13.

[Da Coach]

I don't know what this means. I am always a bit cautious about getting kids from 5-6 states away from Peoria. There are a lot of quality schools/programs close to where these kids are from. Why would they come so far to play basketball at Bradley? I love BU but I always have to wonder about this.

This assumes the coaching staff doesn't know what they are doing by going after these recruits. Jim Les' recruits from distant states like California (Wright, Andrews), Texas (Franklin, Thompson, and others), etc. have turned out pretty good.
I don't think it's fair to throw out all the names like "Danny Granger, Mike Suggs, Cameron Rigby, Antoine Tisby, Lee Biddlecome, Stefan Marcetic, Fred Atkins, Andre Corbett, etc". None of those were Jim Les recruits.

Let's be fair and judge the current staff's recruiting by the players they recruit.

I think we all want the best talent the coaches can get. I wouldn't want them to be restricted to just regional players. I think Illinois is "over-recruited", as coaches from every conference in America concentrate on recruiting Illinois. That may have something to do with the number of Illinois Division I schools that are in the bottom 10% of D1 schools in RPI, since they just get the leftovers in Illinois. (EIU, WIU, NIU, Chicago State, etc).

[BradleyBrave]

This assumes the coaching staff doesn't know what they are doing by going after these recruits. Jim Les' recruits from distant states like California (Wright, Andrews), Texas (Franklin, Thompson, and others), etc. have turned out pretty good.
I don't think it's fair to throw out all the names like "Danny Granger, Mike Suggs, Cameron Rigby, Antoine Tisby, Lee Biddlecome, Stefan Marcetic, Fred Atkins, Andre Corbett, etc". None of those were Jim Les recruits.

Let's be fair and judge the current staff's recruiting by the players they recruit.

I think we all want the best talent the coaches can get. I wouldn't want them to be restricted to just regional players. I think Illinois is "over-recruited", as coaches from every conference in America concentrate on recruiting Illinois. That may have something to do with the number of Illinois Division I schools that are in the bottom 10% of D1 schools in RPI, since they just get the leftovers in Illinois. (EIU, WIU, NIU, Chicago State, etc).

POB was from Minnesota, he was pretty good. Of course he only stayed 2 years, but IMO he gets an exemption since he was a lottery pick.

Of course, Ray Brown and Xavier Crawford were from Minnesota too. That didn't work out so well.

[bradleybasketballfan]

This assumes the coaching staff doesn't know what they are doing by going after these recruits. Jim Les' recruits from distant states like California (Wright, Andrews), Texas (Franklin, Thompson, and others), etc. have turned out pretty good.
I don't think it's fair to throw out all the names like "Danny Granger, Mike Suggs, Cameron Rigby, Antoine Tisby, Lee Biddlecome, Stefan Marcetic, Fred Atkins, Andre Corbett, etc". None of those were Jim Les recruits.

Let's be fair and judge the current staff's recruiting by the players they recruit.

I think we all want the best talent the coaches can get. I wouldn't want them to be restricted to just regional players. I think Illinois is "over-recruited", as coaches from every conference in America concentrate on recruiting Illinois. That may have something to do with the number of Illinois Division I schools that are in the bottom 10% of D1 schools in RPI, since they just get the leftovers in Illinois. (EIU, WIU, NIU, Chicago State, etc).

Da Coach. I never said this coaching staff didn't know what it was doing. This isn't about this staff versus other staffs, etc. I'm only looking at the recent history of Bradley University and it's men's basketball program.

I thought Jim Molinari knew what he was doing in recruiting and when he signed kids from outside the BU "recruiting area", it didn't turn out very well. Will it be different for Jim Les? Who knows. Again, I'm only looking at the history. Nothing more, nothing less.

I also talked about recruited high school kids. Not JUCO's. That's why Andrews, Franklin, etc. weren't mentioned. I also wouldn't put Anthony Thompson in the "success" bracket just yet. The kid hasn't played a second of DI basketball.

As I mentioned. It may mean nothing. It just gives me a little pause based on the lack of success the Bradley program has had over the years with players from a long ways away. It's not a shot at Jim Molinari, Stan Albeck, Jim Les, etc.. I just hope BU is so special to these kids that it is worth it to them to go so far away from home.

Jim Molinari and Jim Les have recruited about the same level player. I don't care where they ultimately come from. I just think ignoring history on the matter would be shortsighted.

[Big Mike]

That's weird.....when I posted Taylor had been added to the roster with the #13? maybe he cannot be on the roster until he enrolls?

[houstontxbrave]

POB was from Minnesota, he was pretty good. Of course he only stayed 2 years, but IMO he gets an exemption since he was a lottery pick.

Of course, Ray Brown and Xavier Crawford were from Minnesota too. That didn't work out so well.

Come on BB Ray Brown would have stayed at BU his full 4 years if he wouldnt have gotten into any trouble, he wasnt going anywhere and Xavier Crawford never set a foot on campus so how can his recruitment be included in this discussion? If that is the case then throw in Dwilliams since he was virtually in the same situation, except he is a local guy.

People leave programs all the time, just because someone is from a far away place does not mean they are more or less likely to leave or stay. Honestly for someone who has never left Chicago, Peoria can feel and be a long ways from home.

[dogsrus]

I have read all the posts in this thread and don't want to argue with anyone, get labeled a hater or get my posts pulled so I sugggest we get ALL our players from ONE single town.

We could all get keys to that city as BU fans and come and go as we please....we could join in on Bicentenial celebrations and maybe one of us could be honorary mayor....

JL could set up a recruiting station much like the Army does and kids could just walk in.....

Now ......what city do we want to claim........hmmmmmmmmmm